diff --git a/apps/staged/src-tauri/src/prs.rs b/apps/staged/src-tauri/src/prs.rs
index 95c6a307..0dc3665c 100644
--- a/apps/staged/src-tauri/src/prs.rs
+++ b/apps/staged/src-tauri/src/prs.rs
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ pub fn clear_branch_pr_status(
 
 /// Check if a branch has commits that haven't been pushed to the remote.
 #[tauri::command(rename_all = "camelCase")]
-pub fn has_unpushed_commits(
+pub async fn has_unpushed_commits(
     store: tauri::State<'_, Mutex<Option<Arc<Store>>>>,
     branch_id: String,
 ) -> Result<bool, String> {
@@ -405,28 +405,36 @@ pub fn has_unpushed_commits(
         let workspace_name = branch
             .workspace_name
             .as_deref()
-            .ok_or_else(|| format!("Branch has no workspace name: {branch_id}"))?;
+            .ok_or_else(|| format!("Branch has no workspace name: {branch_id}"))?
+            .to_string();
         let repo_subpath = crate::branches::resolve_branch_workspace_subpath(&store, &branch)?;
-
-        let remote_ref = format!("origin/{}", branch.branch_name);
-        // Check that the remote tracking branch exists
-        if crate::branches::run_workspace_git(
-            workspace_name,
-            repo_subpath.as_deref(),
-            &["rev-parse", "--verify", &remote_ref],
-        )
-        .is_err()
-        {
-            return Ok(false);
-        }
-        let rev_range = format!("{remote_ref}..HEAD");
-        let output = crate::branches::run_workspace_git(
-            workspace_name,
-            repo_subpath.as_deref(),
-            &["rev-list", &rev_range],
-        )
-        .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
-        return Ok(!output.trim().is_empty());
+        let branch_name = branch.branch_name.clone();
+
+        // Run the blocking SSH calls on a background thread so we don't
+        // block the Tauri IPC thread and freeze the UI.
+        return tauri::async_runtime::spawn_blocking(move || {
+            let remote_ref = format!("origin/{}", branch_name);
+            // Check that the remote tracking branch exists
+            if crate::branches::run_workspace_git(
+                &workspace_name,
+                repo_subpath.as_deref(),
+                &["rev-parse", "--verify", &remote_ref],
+            )
+            .is_err()
+            {
+                return Ok(false);
+            }
+            let rev_range = format!("{remote_ref}..HEAD");
+            let output = crate::branches::run_workspace_git(
+                &workspace_name,
+                repo_subpath.as_deref(),
+                &["rev-list", &rev_range],
+            )
+            .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            Ok(!output.trim().is_empty())
+        })
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("has_unpushed_commits task failed: {e}"))?;
     }
 
     let workdir = store
diff --git a/apps/staged/src/lib/features/branches/BranchCardPrButton.svelte b/apps/staged/src/lib/features/branches/BranchCardPrButton.svelte
index 86bf9b1b..ca56e831 100644
--- a/apps/staged/src/lib/features/branches/BranchCardPrButton.svelte
+++ b/apps/staged/src/lib/features/branches/BranchCardPrButton.svelte
@@ -203,10 +203,11 @@
     return () => clearInterval(interval);
   });
 
-  // Re-check unpushed commits whenever the timeline refreshes and a PR exists
+  // Re-check unpushed commits whenever the timeline refreshes and a PR exists.
+  // Skip for remote branches — the SSH round-trip to check takes ~5s and
+  // blocks the UI. Remote workspace commits are already on the server.
   $effect(() => {
-    // Re-run when timeline changes (dependency) and PR exists
-    if (timeline && branch.prNumber) {
+    if (timeline && branch.prNumber && isLocal) {
       commands.hasUnpushedCommits(branch.id).then((v) => (hasUnpushed = v));
     }
   });
diff --git a/apps/staged/src/lib/features/projects/ProjectHome.svelte b/apps/staged/src/lib/features/projects/ProjectHome.svelte
index b160569b..2ab87476 100644
--- a/apps/staged/src/lib/features/projects/ProjectHome.svelte
+++ b/apps/staged/src/lib/features/projects/ProjectHome.svelte
@@ -313,12 +313,15 @@
   // Track which projects are safe to delete (for button styling)
   let safeToDeleteProjects = $state<Set<string>>(new Set());
 
-  // Update safe-to-delete status when branches change
+  // Update safe-to-delete status when branches change.
+  // Only check visible projects — calling hasUnpushedCommits for every
+  // project wastes IPC round-trips (especially expensive for remote branches)
+  // and the result is only consumed in the visibleProjects render loop.
   $effect(() => {
     const updateSafeStatus = async () => {
       const nextSafe = new Set<string>();
 
-      for (const project of projects) {
+      for (const project of visibleProjects) {
         const branches = branchesByProject.get(project.id) || [];
         const repoCount = repoCountsByProject.get(project.id) || 0;
 
@@ -328,12 +331,16 @@
           continue;
         }
 
-        // Check if all branches have merged PRs and no unpushed changes
+        // Check if all branches have merged PRs and no unpushed changes.
+        // Skip the expensive hasUnpushedCommits check for remote branches —
+        // their commits live on the workspace and the SSH round-trip (~5s)
+        // blocks the UI. Treat merged remote branches as safe.
         if (branches.length > 0) {
           const allSafe = await Promise.all(
             branches.map(async (branch) => {
               const isMerged = branch.prState === 'MERGED';
               if (!isMerged) return false;
+              if (branch.branchType === 'remote') return true;
 
               try {
                 const hasUnpushed = await commands.hasUnpushedCommits(branch.id);
@@ -410,11 +417,14 @@
       return;
     }
 
-    // Check if all branches have merged PRs and no unpushed changes
+    // Check if all branches have merged PRs and no unpushed changes.
+    // Skip the expensive hasUnpushedCommits check for remote branches —
+    // their commits live on the workspace and the SSH round-trip blocks the UI.
     const allSafe = await Promise.all(
       branches.map(async (branch) => {
         const isMerged = branch.prState === 'MERGED';
         if (!isMerged) return false;
+        if (branch.branchType === 'remote') return true;
 
         // Check for unpushed commits
         try {